Gaseous fuel candle



April 29, 196.9 B. K. SCHICKLEIN `3,441,357

GASEOUS FUEL CANDLE Filed Aug. l5, 1967 2 u 22 '0 l n FlG.Z FlG. 5

INVENTOR.

BURG/#4R0 Il. SCH/C/(LEM/ Biff@ [M2/W A TTRM Y United States Patent O US. Cl. 431-125 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to candles using a gaseous fuel, such as butane. More specifically, it deals with a candle having a hollow body movably mounted in a base. A hollow needle serves as the wick and it projects downwardly into the body wherein a can of fuel, such as butane under pressure, is held in aligning relation with respect to the needle, so that when the body is pressed downwardly, the lower end of the needle enters the nozzle of the fuel can and presses open the valve therein, so as to permit fuel to pass through the hollow needle.

Locking means are provided in the base to lock the candle body in fuel on or off position, and spring means are provided at the candle top to impose pressure on the fuel can top to maintain the candle body in the desired position.

Background of the invention Candles using liquid fuel have been introduced in recent years. One objection to their use is that the very volatile fuel evaporates rapidly when the candle is not in use, so that there is always a wastage of fuel involved. Also, the use of a cotton or asbestos wick makes the candle messy to handle, particularly when a lengthening or change of wick is involved.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention, no wick is employed, so that all of the disadvantages thereof are elimated. Also, by use of a gaseous fuel, such as butane, it is possible to shut oif the fuel supply readily so as to conserve fuel.

In the present invention, `a hollow needle, fixed to the top of the candle body, serves as the wick. When the body is pressed against the base, the needle enters the nozzle of the fuel can and opens the self-sealing closure serving as the valve therein so that fuel gas is discharged through the hollow needle, and may be lit to give the candle flame. Releasing the body (against spring compression) retracts the needle `out of the nozzle and the fuel supply to the candle is shut off.

Brief description. of drawing The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which a preferred embodiment is described and in which:

FIGURE 1 presents a side elevational view of a candle of the present invention, with body partially broken away to show the fuel can therein;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a top or plan view of the candle shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 depicts a bottom view of the same candle;

FIGURE 4 shows a bottom view, similar to that in FIGURE 3, but with the can and can holder removed;

FIGURE 5 presents a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion `of the same candle;

FIGURE 6 shows a similar view of the bottom portion of the same candle, with a portion of the base cut away;

FIGURE 7 illustrates a vertical cross-sectional view 3,441,357 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 ICS of the base sleeve, with a portion of the base cut away; FIGURE 8 shows a vertical Cros-sectional view of a typical fuel can nozzle and valve suitable for use with the present invention.

The same numerals refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring again to the drawing, numeral 10 refers to a hollow cylindrical candle body made of plastic, metal, or other suitable material, said body having attached thereto, a conical top 11, through the center of which is inserted, and sealed thereto, a hollow needle 12, which serves as the wickf This needle may be a hypodermic needle made of metal, the inner hole of which serves as the passageway for the gaseous fuel for the candle. The size of the hole determines the size of the llame 13 of the candle. It is possible to pinch the side of needle 12 (with pliers, for example), if a smaller llame is desired.

A downwardly-directed cylindrical projection 14 is provided on the bottom surface of candle top 11, and it is spaced annularly with respect to needle 12, which also projects downwardly within candle body 10. Projection 14 serves as an anchoring means for the upper end of spiral spring 15, which is also downwardly-directed inside of candle body 10. Spring 15 has 'an outer dimension at its lower end 15' such that it tits snugly within groove 16 in the top of fuel can 17, and thus serves as a centering means `for the top of the can, so that lower needle end 12 can readily enter opening 18 of nozzle 19 of the can.

Can 17 may be a can containing liquefied butane 20 under pressure, usually sold as lighter fluid for butane cigarette lighters. When candle body 10 is pushed downwardly against can holder 21 mounted within base 22 of the candle (as will be explained later), lower needle end 12 is pushed into hole 18 of nozzle 19. This enables the needle end to press down the valve (such `as that depicted in FIG. 8) in nozzle 19, thus permitting the fuel to escape through the hole in needle 12. When in this position, can 17 is held against the pressure of spring 15.

FIG. 8 shows a type of conventional fuel can nozzle and valve which may be used with the present invention. The plastic nozzle 19 has a hole 18 into which needle end 12' is pushed. Nozzle 19, which is generally made of plastic, has its lower portion crimped on to the projecting portion 31 of the top of fuel can 17. The central portion of nozzle 19 comprises a plastic tube 32 through which the butane is fed to the needle. Between the top of tube 32 and hole 18 is a self-scalable plastic plug 33 which covers hole 18 and seals off the nozzle from leakage of fuel. When needle tip 12' is pushed through opening 18, it penetrates plug 33 and enters tube 32, thus permitting the butane gas to ow to the candle tip to be ignited.

Base 22 is provided with an attached inner sleeve 23 having outer threads 24. Attached to these threads is can holder 21 having inner threads 25 coacting with threads 24 on sleeve 23. Can holder 21 has a well 26 into which the bottom of can 17 fits snugly and is centered therein for facilitating entry of needle end 12 into the nozzle thereof.

It will be noted that the bottom outer surface of candle body 10 has three equally-spaced laterally-projecting locking prongs 27, making it necessary to insert body 10 upwardly through base sleeve 23, in the assembly of the candle. The inner surface 23 of sleeve 23 is provided with three equally-spaced stepped grooves 28 into which prongs 27 may be engaged. When the body 10 is turned, spring 15 pushes body 10 upwardly, so that when uppermost grooves 29 are reached, prongs 27 are locke-d therein, and needle end 12 is disconnected from the valve in can nozzle 119, and no fuel leaves can 117, `so that the candle is put out. When candle body 110 is pressed downwardly and turned simultaneously to engage prongs 27 in lower grooves 30, needle end 112 presses down the valve in nozzle 19 and `fuel escapes through needle 12 (as in FIG. 5), and the candle may be lit to enable flame 13 to burn. Body lits snugly in sleeve 23.

I claim:

1l. A gaseous fuel candle, comprising:

a base,

a hollow candle body mounted in slidably movable and lockable relation with respect to said base,

`a top attached to the upper portion of said body,

a hollow needle centrally attached to `said top and serving as the wick for the candle, and extending downwardly into the body portion thereof,

a can of normally gaseous fuel having a nozzle with a needle-penetrable fuel valve, and disposable within said candle body and upon said base, and having annular centering means on its top for enabling the centering of the can top,

centering means on said base to center the bottom of said can,

'a helical spring attached at its upper portion to the inside of said body top and around said needle and designed to have its lower portion to impress a thrust at said can top centering means, and serving as guide means for guiding said needle into said nozzle for penetration of said valve to discharge fuel when said candle body is moved downwardly, and

locking means for locking said body onto said base while discharge of fuel through said needle is taking place.

2. A gaseous fuel candle, according to claim 1, in which the fuel can has a nozzle, and a groove in its top in annular -relation to its nozzle, and said spring means fits into said groove.

3. A gaseous fuel candle, according to claim 1l, in which the -base has attached to it a sleeve into which said candle body fits snugly.

4. A gaseous fuel candle, according to claim 3, in which a can holder well is adjustably attachable to said sleeve, said Well being designed to hold and center said can.

5. A gaseous fuel candle, according to claim 3, in which the bottom of said candle body has spaced prongs projecting laterally therefrom, and similarly spaced `grooves disposed within the inner surface of said sleeve in a manner so as to serve as locking means for said prongs When said body is in full discharging position with respect to said can.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,683,484 7/1954 Falligant 158-33 2,749,733 6/1956 Smith et al. 67-87 2,890,815 6/1959 Corlet 158-33 X 3,267,700 8/1966 Kommer et al. 67-87 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. XR. 431-203 

